In the history of sports supplementation few products have had the impact and the fire power to back it up as Creatine Monohydrate (CM). When it comes to performance enhancement Creatine monohydrate is right up there with L-Glutamine, NO products and protein powders. The stuff flat out works and has the science to support it.

MyoTrend has in conjunction with the physicians of PPP brought to market a new CM matrix that represents the current best interpretation of the latest research.

Q: You find that a lot of bodybuilding literature talks about ATP, ADP, Creatine Monohydrate and Creatine Phosphate. Provide us a brief definition as to what ATP is and why it’s so important to individuals engaged in strength training for bodybuilding and football.

A: ATP is a high-energy compound stored within muscle and other cells in the body. ATP has 3-energetic phosphate molecules attached to a 5-Carbon sugar molecule + a Nitrogenous Base. When a muscle cell requires energy to contract (like when you’re doing biceps curls), ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is broken down into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) + Pi. ATP can be thought of as the actual fuel responsible for muscular contraction. The ATP-phosphagen system provides an immediate source of energy lasting less than 20-25 seconds, often suited for rapid, short-duration, high power activities such as lifting weights, hitting a power sled, sprinting, swimming, cycling, or running.

Q: How is ATP produced in the body?

A: ATP is synthesized in every cell within the body for energy. Cells make up every living organ and tissue within the body, including muscle. Each muscle cell makes ATP by breaking down the food that you eat, stored fats carbohydrates (glycogen), and proteins through a process called Metabolism in order to make ATP. Metabolic reactions sequentially breakdown ingested or stored macronutrient fuels such as Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids (fat) to generate the universal, chemical energy currency known as ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate).

Keep in mind that ATP synthesis is tightly regulated in the body by many biochemical reactions at multiple levels which include: 1) Course Broader Control, and 2) Fine Control (more intrinsic). Course Control is dependent on the availability of end-products and reactants such as Oxygen, ADP, Pi, and ATP itself, Fine Control is subtler and takes place specifically at individual enzymes within a myriad of biochemical pathways [1, 2].

With regard to athletes and related muscle activities, there are specific metabolic processes that we are interested in: Anaerobic and Aerobic Metabolism. Anaerobic metabolism is of interest to anybody doing work that generally lasts less than 2 - 3 minutes. So, if you’re running a sprint, moving heavy furniture in your house, or working out for this period of time, your muscles produce ATP by using a process called anaerobic metabolism to fuel that activity. It is anaerobic because oxygen is not required for this process. If the activity lasts more than 3 minutes without rest, then the muscles use Aerobic Metabolism to make ATP, which requires oxygen to fuel any activity that will last greater than 3 minutes. Examples of such activities include: a long brisk walk or jog where a person is doing the activity for much longer periods of time.

Q: You have a new formula CreaGen™ that focuses on supporting ATP for both Anaerobic and Aerobic metabolism. Am I correct in assuming that it is mostly for bodybuilders?

A: Briefly, any athlete interested in augmenting their bioenergetic capacity and recovery/ adaptation process could benefit substantially from CreaGen™ supplementation. You will be hard-pressed to find an athlete who isn’t interested in increasing the capacity of muscular energetics, recovery, and adaptation from their training. This includes bodybuilders, “weekend warriors”, sprinters, swimmers, cyclists, football players, etc. The extent to which CreaGen™ will augment performance in an athlete depends on far too many factors (biochemical/physiologic individuality, training status, sport, nutritional status, etc. to name a few) beyond the scope of this interview. However, I will again say that this formula is for any athlete and weekend warrior regardless of their sport and how hard they work.

Q: Ok! So, anyone who trains needs this formula. Now, does the CreaGen™ supplementation increase Creatine Phosphate, ATP or both?

A: CreaGen™ can increase the quantity of both by: (1) Enhancing flux through oxidative, aerobic pathways of energy metabolism, hence generating more ATP; (2) Providing increased intra-muscular stores of both free creatine and creatine phosphate. So, the answer is both!

Q: Now, without CreaGen™, does the body produce enough ATP on its own?

A: That depends on the task or goal. For enhanced athletic performance, it is necessary to train properly with supportive nutrition for optimizing the energetic pathways central to generating ATP. Training, eating, and supplementing for sport makes an individual more efficient at producing ATP within pathways for muscular energetic that are more suitable and specific to the activities of the sport [3].

In a healthy individual, the body produces enough ATP on its own to do most activities. However, without proper nutrition, supplementation, and training, the body won’t make enough ATP for progress or change. The body only makes enough ATP for its current needs and to keep the status quo, that is, the body will resist any change in muscle, fat, or general function. Biologists call this homeostasis, which simply means the body resists change such as lower body fat, bigger muscles, or even weight gain/obesity. People gain weight because they eat much more than they expend. Because the food is not used up for energy in the form of ATP, it is stored as fat.

Since the body can produce ATP for its needs, one theory as to how creatine works is that supplementation is theorized to regenerate creatine phosphate (CrP) levels in the muscle and hence, ATP once it is used up for energy [4]. Creatine phosphate donates a phosphate group to ADP to make more ATP. In other words, in order for the body the body to maintain an activity, supplementing with a product like CreaGen™, which contains creatine improves how the body refuels itself. The analogy is like getting gas for your car. The body is equipped with all the mechanisms to refuel itself, for instance, a gas station, fuel, workers that service the car etc., in this analogy.

A product like CreaGen™ containing a new creatine matrix is a way to make the whole process work faster so refueling your engine occurs much faster and efficiently to provide fuel for many processes such as anabolic growth, muscle hypertrophy, athletic performance, improve body composition, and increased muscle endurance. More recent studies show that creatine supplementation may in fact increase starting creatine phosphate levels [5]. By analogy, taking creatine fills the gas tank to start with and hence you have more creatine phosphate to support muscle activity and exercise rather than by creatine phosphate regeneration. In fact, more studies are needed as to how creatine enhances performance in humans. I am sure that many more mechanisms will be elucidated in order to show how creatine works in the body.

Q: Interesting! Would you say that one of the ways an athlete can overcome homeostasis and gain muscle and/or lose fat, or perform at a higher level, is to stack the energetic chips to provide ATP/energy surplus?

A: Certain supplements, in addition to proper nutrition and exercise have shown to provide the body with the “raw” materials it needs to regenerate ATP once it is used up, and also improve other metabolic processes in order to beat and overcome homeostasis.

Q: I understand that the body will “on its’ own”, make enough ATP for whatever its’ immediate fuel needs are. This said I am unclear if it (the body) will create enough ATP to meet increased demands created through exercise.

A: Basically, the body will do what it can and no more. An athlete for example, can increase energy demands by running more or training more heavily and with more intensity. However, fatigue sets in if the demand is too high. This is where supplementation comes in. It (supplementation) will help you go beyond the limits your body has. It also helps you adapt faster so that in future workouts, you can run faster, longer, and train more intensely than your previous workout. What you thought was a “demand” on your body, will require much less effort to complete. Supplementation, diet, and proper rest will help accomplish this.

Q: As a point of clarity, tell us if this statement is correct. In the end, Creatine Monohydrate Phosphate serves to convert to ATP, thereby increasing the performance capabilities of an athlete.

A: To be more specific, creatine phosphate “donates” phosphates to ADP (a breakdown product of ATP) to make more ATP:

Q: Will ATP function differently in Anaerobic vs. Aerobic Metabolism?

A: ATP, whether synthesized from anaerobic or aerobic metabolism functions universally, as a source of readily available chemical energy. In other words, anaerobic and aerobic pathways are simply different routes or highways that lead to the same destination (ATP). Now, if you repeatedly train utilizing more anaerobic metabolism (such as weightlifting, sprinting, etc.) as opposed to aerobic metabolism (distance running, triathlons, etc.), the body will adapt differently, and as such, will use ATP to energize different processes. So if you are weight training as your pre-dominant exercise program, then the effects over time will lead to greater strength and muscle mass with or without fat loss. ATP is used as energy to fuel the steps that lead to those effects. In other words, the ATP is used to build muscle. In aerobic athletes, ATP is used to power the greater endurance activities instead of growth.

The chemical energy available within ATP is used to maintain and perform various, necessary cellular functions which include: muscle contraction (at high and low intensities), nerve impulse conduction, pumping ions across cell membranes, breakdown and synthesis of chemical constituents of cells (e.g. muscle protein, glycogen, outer and inner cell membranes, etc.). The function of ATP is even more obvious on a larger scale, in the conversion of chemical energy to other forms such as the mechanical, physical work of lifting a heavy dumbbell/ barbell in the gym. Even maintaining life involves work which requires ATP: breathing, pumping blood through the vascular system, chewing/ digesting food, and replacing/ repairing cells which have been damaged (e.g. muscle cell damage from a bout of resistance training) [6].

Q: I don’t want to sound stupid, but am correct in saying that CreaGen™ as a strategic formula equally supplements and benefits aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, thereby having a significant impact in the performance capabilities of athletes whether they run a mile, carry a football or even do chest on Mondays?

A: Theoretically, this is what we intended. Versatility is one of many strengths of the formula because it can be applied so many different ways. The scenario you presented with an elite athlete that can have the endurance to run a mile and still work intensely is truly a talent and to some extent, genetically endowed gift. CreaGen™ can help maximize those capabilities. However, most everyday people aren’t “genetically” endowed so CreaGen™ will make an enormous impact on both their training and recovery capabilities.

Q: I think I know this one, but tell us the difference between Creatine Monohydrate (CM) and Creatine Phosphate (CP)?

A: Creatine Monohydrate is the most common supplemental, powdered form taken by mouth, which has a water (H2O) molecule attached to the creatine molecule. Most of the Creatine Monohydrate dissociates within the GI tract with free creatine entering systemic circulation and is taken up by skeletal muscle via a sodium-dependent transporter (CrT). Once inside the skeletal muscle cell, 60-65% is in the form of CP (creatine phosphate), with the remaining 35-40% as free creatine [7].

If you look at the diagram below, creatine ionically bonded to phosphate (PO4) is the form that predominates in muscle cells.

Q: In the same referenced bodybuilding literature we are told that there is a considerable amount of Creatine present in red meat. If one was to consume a pound of red meat a day, would that provide enough muscle building Creatine?

A: No, 2.2lbs. (1 Kg) of raw red meat contains approximately 4.5 grams of creatine. Therefore, 1lb. pound of red meat may contain less than 2.1 grams of creatine. Cooking the meat degrades the creatine further so that 1lb. of red meat will contain even less than 2 grams of creatine. As such, 1-serving of CreaGen™ contains more than X (10) times the creatine than 1lb. of red meat, pork, salmon or tuna! [8].

Q: In other literature, you talk about ATP being responsible for the recovery of muscle from repeated bouts of training stress. Are you referring to the recovery that takes place between sets or between training sessions?

A: ATP represents the chief, ultimate currency used to drive the mechanical process of muscular contraction and work (from walking and moving your body to strenuous exercise in the gym). Hence, it follows that the muscular energetic state of readiness is closely related to the quantity of available ATP. This energetic state of readiness refers to the recovery that takes place both between sets of an exercise as well as between training sessions. The difference being that between sets within one training session, there is a gradual deficit of the available ATP pool with each successive set of repetitions. Therefore, you need rest between sessions to thoroughly replenish the ATP pool and repay the energy deficit [9]. In the context of repeated bouts, we are looking at the big picture effects of creatine supplementation on the training effect and adaptation to training stress.

Q: Is CreaGen™ a Big Picture product or intended to limit its effect to during the training?

A: We spoke of its versatility, so the answer is yes, CreaGen™ is definitely a “Big Picture” product and for a given training session. Over the course of the year, CreaGen™ can be used in phases to maximize performance and recuperation during intense training blocks. You can cycle its dosages to maximize the overall performance of the athlete at the end of the training season or year.

Q: CreaGen™ contains a creatine matrix that the label refers to as CreA3™. What is this, and why not just stick with regular Creatine Monohydrate?

Q: In short, CreaGen™ works on multiple pathways of ATP regeneration, enhanced performance and recuperation because each individual component has evidence of efficacy that does NOT interfere with each other.

A: Nearly decades of research are culminated into one formula that we believe takes Creatine Monohydrate to the next level.

Q: Awesome! From your clinical perspective what is the single most meaningful distinction between CreaGen™ and every other Creatine Monohydrate supplement claiming to be the latest, greatest supplement?

A: The single most important distinction is that CreaGen™ was formulated to combine ingredients in a rational manner. Each component was carefully researched and has evidence for its effectiveness and utilizes dosages based on the culmination of scientific studies, rationale, and real-world experience. We didn’t add components with very limited or weak evidence, nor did we add ingredients that may interfere with the effectiveness of the others within the formula.

It is also important to understand that attempting to utilize any and every nutrient, which may have a remote potential to impact performance is not the best approach. This practice of everything but the kitchen sink may cause a relative dilutional effect rendering most, if not all ingredients ineffective and void. In this respect, CreaGen™ was designed to work harmoniously with the other MyoTrend products, for maximum effectiveness, in an integrated program called Rational Polysupplementation exclusively for MyoTrend and PPP, LLC.

Q: I appreciate that response. I have always felt that countless products from as many companies’ add or include components that have no real reason for being and market the product as if it were the cure to cancer. No names mentioned, but do you think that the biggest problem with the “buffet” approach to formulating supplements results in compounds being added at dosages that are way to low and don’t have a chance to produce a desired effect?

A: Yes, to some extent a product may contain MANY nutrients and intermediates, which may be effective and biologically active individually at the right dosage. However, in the interest of impressing consumers, a “shotgun approach” could dilute out certain potentially effective, ergogenic nutrients; thus, rendering the entire product with disappointing results. For example, you may wind up with a product that contains 15 nutrients, each in sub-optimal dosages versus an ideal product with 2-8 nutrients in performance-optimizing dosages, with no cross interference or antagonism. Of course, there are some exceptions that require a large number of different constituents, such as with certain micronutrient/co-factor supplements.

Q: PPP, LLC often refers to the term Rational Poly Supplementation. Tell us more?

A: In our think-tanking process, PPP, LLC has coined a term for the approach that so few sports nutrition companies have the ability or will take. We believe whole-heartedly in RATIONAL POLY-SUPPLEMENTATION, as it is one of the principles/guidelines we use when formulating a performance nutrition product.

PPP, LLC defines RATIONAL POLY-SUPPLEMENTATION as utilizing 2 or more nutritional components/metabolites with complementary mechanisms of action in an effort to substantially increase the “effect” beyond what you would expect with the components taken individually or separately. In this manner, we avoid redundancy, unnecessary overlap and even antagonism so prevalent with the “everything-under-the-sun” approach.

Additionally, we get to save the prospective consumer $$Dollars$$ by only having the components in a supplement that we feel are justified for the purpose(s)/goal(s) in a scientific, ‘rational’ manner. We truly look forward to “Pioneering your Performance,” through RATIONAL POLY-SUPPLEMENTATION by consistently developing safe effective formulations!

So, to recap: The theory is based on using 2 or more agents with different mechanisms of action to augment the desired response when compared to mono-supplementation.

Human Physiology is full of redundant pathways, which are fighting to bring the system back and keep it in homeostasis. Sometimes to effect a phenotypic change, the system must be challenged and approached from multiple angles; hence, the term RATIONAL POLY-SUPPLEMENTATION.

Q: In your literature you talk about the Creatine Matrix (CreA3™) comprising CreaGen™. Is it your position that this is the absolute end of the road in terms of creatine supplementation, meaning this, are you going to come out next month with a new latest greatest breakthrough product? Consumers are so tired of being lied to and mislead by companies.

A: To be honest, although CreaGen™ represents the current, best interpretation of the research done to date, it is certainly NOT the absolute end of the road for creatine supplementation. We are actually in the process of fine-tuning and tweaking a completely novel form of creatine. This new creatine-complex holds great promise for taking creatine’s ergogenic potential to the next level. Ergogenic potential refers to creatine’s ability to: -- increase anaerobic work capacity and power, --promote muscular growth/ hypertrophy, -- accelerate recovery, and --enhance workout intensity and performance. Simply stated, the new creatine-complex was developed to meet the performance of recreational and serious athletes.

Physicians Pioneering Performance, LLC through its strategic association with MyoTrend is always looking to improve and bring to market breakthrough products with long-standing appeal. We want to balance innovation with evidence-based approach to developing supplements, using our honest and best interpretation of the available evidence, scientific rationale, anecdotal feedback, and clinical experience. We are never going to divert to misleading customers for a quick buck. Our reputation depends on it!!

On behalf of MyoTrend Nutritional Technologies, LLC and our readers we wish to extend warm and sincere thanks to Doctor Lopes and Jimenez for granting this interview. I trust our readers have elevated their level of awareness and understanding and if so, thanks to you.

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